New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-22
NlTURALIZED CITIZENS WRONGS

One of the officials of the State Department
has offered a singular excuse for inaction in
the Pouble case. lie states that the man who
has been sentenced TO Imprisonment for life in
Cuba for offences committed in the United
States had been naturaized citizen only a
very short time. If the legality Of his natur-
alization be conceded, it does not matter
whether he had been citizen for many years
or only for few months or even weeks. Citl-
zcnship establishes a right to protection from
the United States Government from the very
hour when it is acquired CirilO Poubc as q
naturalized citizen has not received the pro-
lection from the present Administration to
which American law and the best precedents
Of American diplomacy entitle him. 1t Is
nearly three years since he was arrested, and
tho State Department has neither acted with
firmness and energy nor ordered thorough
and impartial investigation of the case
If the State Department considers Pouble's
grievances of slight importance since his term
of citizenship was brief, how can it justify tho
action of one Of its greatest Secretaries, Mr..
Marcy, in the celebrated Koszta case7 Martin
Koszta was not naturaized citizen. lie was
dOmiciled alien who had lived here two
years and when he sailed for Europe had an
nounced his intention Of returning. When
he was arrested in Smyrna by order Of tho
Austrian Consul, he was protected by the
American Government at the risk of a naval
engagement between American and Austrian
men-ofwar. Mr.. Marcy In his correspond
ence with Mr.. Hulsemann contendcd that it is
The duty of every Government to protect
domiciled aliens as well as native-bom and
naturalized citizens; and the gallant COM
mander of the st. Louis was publicly thanked
for his spirited action in behalf of Koszta.
If Mr. Marcy could interest himself to this
extent in the fortunes of a resident alien,
surely Mr.. Bayard ought to take some de-
cisive action in the case Of Pouble, who is a
naturaized citizen, arrested tried and sent
enced for acts committed in the United States.
The Pouble case is one which ought to COM
mand the attention and sympathy of the Sec
rotary since it involves the self-same question
Of extra-jurisdictiOn which he considered Of
supreme importance in the Cutting case.
Pouble has never been accused Of committing
any overt act In Cuba. He has been impris-
oned for life on the vague charge, unsrfp-
ported by direct evidence, of instigating the
ABucro rcOcllon Whllo ne was iNlnS Ill new
York. He was not accused Of active participa-
ton in that movement Tho evidence cited
at the trial consisted mainly Of newspaper
articles which he wrote in New-York In favor
of Cuban independence, together with GER
tificate of revolutionary character furnished
by the Spanish Consul at this port and several
letters and dispatches over what the defence
contendcd were forged signatures. He has
been punished for editing an American news
paper, for advocating here the independence
of Cuba and for presiding at meetings Of q
committee interested in the same cause-that
Is, for opinions held, writings published and
acts committed on American soil. This is
case of extra-jurisdiction on the part of for
eign court, which is far more serious than